Attorney General Issues Subpoenas in Propane Industry Probe

Attorney General Issues Subpoenas in Propane Industry Probe

A propane user checks his tank. (File photo)

LANSING, Mich. (March 19, 2014) — Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Wednesday that he is seeking civil subpoenas in the investigation into pricing and other “suspect business practices” during this winter’s propane price hikes.

According to a release, Schuette’s office has been contacted by more than 700 consumers since January who have complained of unfair pricing and other questionable business practices in the propane industry.

Sixty-five of those complaints, according to Schuette’s office, are related to Kansas-based Ferrellgas Inc. and its affiliate, Best Propane. The complaints include allegations of excessive pricing and misrepresenting the price that consumers would pay for propane.

FOX 17 has reached out to Ferrellgas for comment, but has not heard back.

“Michigan families have enough rising costs to worry about without being concerned that they may be taken advantage of by their energey supplier,” Schuette said in a release. “We are prepared to take legal action if it is determined that state law has been broken.